Jackson PTA: a.k.a. People Taking Action

"Done!"   A simple mantra heard daily in our bustling PTA Center. And no wonder. With Jackson parents logging in an average of 7,500 man and woman hours a school year, our PTA is easily one of the strongest in the state of Georgia. Beyond bake sales and setting up the coffee urns, what exactly are we doing, you wonder? In a word, plenty:

- Creating programs to enhance our curriculum and reinforce our IB agenda: Jackson moms continue to reveal their superwoman status in vision, practice, and energy. Great ideas recently birthed from their initiative and collaborations include:

- Jackson GreenThink: A comprehensive eco-education program that introduces on-going green activities at the school, with a goal of translating this new awareness within a student's home, community, and world.

- Roots and Shoots: Jackson's philanthropy program, where children are taught the importance of community service and giving back. Parents of this committee select projects that are meaningful and based on the philosophy that knowledge leads to compassion which inspires action.

- Love Your Body Week:  Jackson¹s effort to reinforce positive views to students regarding body image, with an emphasis on exercise and health. It's a week-long calendar of innovative and fun activities, both on campus and off.

• Managing like pros: Currently, there are over 60 committees that comprise our PTA and have a profound effect on our school.  From large-scale community events like our Pumpkin Patch or Jamboree, to weekly Welcome Desk coordination, our volunteers take their responsibilities seriously, often stepping up as multi-faceted leaders to get the job done.

• Raising money: Each school year, our many PTA-driven fundraising events net tens of thousands in profits which are immediately used to upgrade on-site equipment such as copiers or appliances, refresh interior environments and outside grounds, as well as earmark funds to guarantee the hiring of supplemental teachers, staff and a school nurse, for example. Monies are also allocated in a variety of other ways including: a new school web site, Smartboards, supplies and materials for recycling, other PTA programs, and in 2007, establishing the Warren T. Jackson Foundation for securing large-scale fundraising opportunities.

• Improving, Improving, Improving: Recent PTA endeavors built Jackson's  sprawling outdoor amphitheater, brick pathways to the new school wing, teacher workroom, PTA Center, Teacher and Parent Kitchen, outdoor track, all playgrounds and outdoor water fountains, professional lighting and sound systems for our stage, massive renovations and upgrades to Jackson Primary, along with notable landscaping improvements and an outdoor irrigation system.

• Alerting the media: In 2007, Jackson moms with professional experience in the marketing, advertising, PR, promotions, and design fields banded together to really get the word out on all the good things happening around here. Internally, a comprehensive, professional branding effort continues to provide continuity to all things Jackson from big jobs like revamping the school logo and tagline, all the way down to our car stickers.

On the business side, our PTA Executive Board meets monthly and general PTA meetings are held three times per year. These meetings serve as a forum for parents, teachers, and administrators to discuss current and relevant issues pertaining to our school and district. While it definitely takes on a lot for the school, the PTA's general mission is to support the students, teachers, and staff by promoting quality education, striving to expand the arts, encouraging community involvement, and working toward a healthier environment for the children.

Our PTA co-presidents, Melissa Sturgis at melissasturgis@me.com and
Karen Yanoshik at kcyano@yahoo.com, encourage you to contact them with any questions.
Or better yet, to get involved (yesterday) with any PTA project or committee.